When I got my first Android phone a little over three years ago, one of my favorite things was to browse the Android Market and watch which apps were being pushed to the Android Market. Developers soon began to exploit the Just In section of the Android Market with fake updates to get their app to the top of the list, so Google eventually removed that feature.

Now when I want to see what’s new in the Android Market, I turn to AppAware. I’ve covered the app before and it’s been around for a couple years, but they just relaunched a couple months ago with a completely overhauled version that turned the service into a social network for app discovery.

The developers are awesome guys (you might have noticed they power our app stats widgets around the site), and they constantly update AppAware with exciting new features. Filters allow you to browse apps by category and drill down into your friends apps, location, trending, popular, and yes they even have a Just In tab now.

I’ve found that one of the best ways to discover useful apps is to look at what people are actually updating, and not focus on which apps have the most installs. This shows me which apps have active support from their developers and sometimes reminds me of an old app that I might have removed long ago.

The following is a Top 10 list of apps which were updated in the last seven days and received the most updates during that time period on AppAware. I hope you enjoy this weekly feature and discover some apps that you might find useful.

WhatsApp Messenger - Version 2.7.3581

WhatsApp Messenger is a smartphone messenger available for Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, Windows Phone and Nokia phones. It allows you to say goodbye to SMS and provides a bunch of new features like group messaging. I have never used the app, but it currently has over 10 million installs in the Android Market with an average review score of 4.6.

What’s in this version:

Critical bug fix for Samsung devices that would “lose” their registration

Go Launcher EX – Version 2.78

If you hate the custom skin that came with you Android phone then Go Launcher EX is a must install. There are many home replacement apps out there, but Go Launcher has always been one of my favorites. It has a ton of support from the Go Dev Team and there are an endless number of themes available. Go Launcher also has over 10 million downloads with an average review score of 4.7.

What’s in this version:

(New) Click on search button to enter app search in app drawer (also available by long pressing menu button)

AppAware – Version 3.0.9

I’ve already praised AppAware above, so I suggest you just go install the app and try it out. The new version only has between 10-50k installs, but I see it reaching into the millions in the coming months. This is the ultimate app for people who love apps.

What’s in this version:

Added Avatar Picks: curated lists of Android apps you should not miss!

Official eBay – Version 1.7.2.7

I haven’t used eBay in years, but I know a ton of people who still check it every week, including my dad. The official app is a great way to manage your account and surf for the latest deals. It currently has over 10 million installs with an average review score of 4.2.

Shazam – Version Varies with Device

Shazam is pure magic and one of my all time favorite Android apps. It instantly identifies music and now TV commercials and then provides more information about them. I’m constantly surprised by the new features that get thrown into it with each update. They recently added the ability to display lyrics in-sync with the music, which is a feature I love. Shazam has over 10 million installs with an average review score of 4.5.

What’s in this version:

Speed improvements: we’ve given our App an extra adrenaline shot so you can identify audio even faster!

Tiny Flashlight + LED – Version Varies with Device

Tiny Flashlight is always my flashlight app of choice when I move to a new device. It’s the first to support many new devices and is constantly updated. The latest version improves stability and adds a share option.

ROM Manager – Version 5.0.0.6

Just as the Market description says, ROM Manager is a must have app for any root user. It allows you to make complete backups of your device, flash your recovery image, install ROMs over the air, and a ton more features. They recently passed 3 million installs and have an average review score of 4.7.

What’s in this version:

Fix bug on Rezound and other HTC phones where external sd couldn’t be detected

TuneIn Radio – Version 5.4

Pandora is my personal choice for streaming music, but TuneIn Radio has gained popularity quickly. TuneIn offers over 50,000 local and global stations and 1.2 million on-demand programs. An update to the previous version 5.3 added a Car Mode, which lets you listen to your favorite music, sports and news simply by speaking a command into your Android phone or tablet.

What’s in this version:

Swipe right and left to easily access presets, recommended stations and options

Options to auto-restart your last played station and prevent auto lock

Google+ – Version Varies with Device

Most of our audience is familiar with the Google+ app, that has been adding features at a crazy pace. The latest update improved performance, added a What’s Hot section, let’s users who +1′d content, and added several other enhancements. Make sure you grab this update if you have not installed it yet.

TripAdvisor – Version 2.0

TripAdvisor is an app and service that I have never used, but over 1 million people have it currently installed and gave it an average review score of 4.5. Their tagline is “Plan and have your perfect trip with TripAdvisor.” They also supply a number of city guide apps for some of the largest tourist destinations. The latest version 2.0 added a new layout for tablets. I like to travel, so I’m downloading this to my own tablet right now.

Taylor is the founder of Android and Me. He resides in Dallas and carries the Samsung Galaxy S 4 and HTC One as his daily devices. Ask him a question on Twitter or Google+ and he is likely to respond. | Ethics statement

I’ve heard about WhatsApp, it is useful if you have many friends with Android smartphones (I don;t have that many) and you tell them to install it. I’ve used Go Launcher on my HD2 until I got my EVo 3D, I am now using Sense for a while. I am really not interested in connecting my Twitter/Facebook to my gaming habits, there is already enough information about me on these sites. I don’t buy stuff from Ebay, I use Soundhound (I purchased it in the 10 cents promotion days). I’ve used Tiny Flashlight when I didn’t have an app for that, now I have one from Sense. I prefer to manually upgrade my ROMs (not through RomManager). I don’t have a mobile data plan to listen to radio online. I use Google+ on the browser, so I don’t need it on my phone. TripAdviser is not that useful in Eastern Europe. My addition to this list would be Route66, I can use it for free after the trial period.

benben

Whatsapp is also available for IOS and Symbian (probably Windows Phone as well).
It is very useful especially for sending photos.

Nerea

And Blackberry too. I use Whatsapp constantly every day with my friends from Spain (everybody in Spain has Whatsapp and the US.

ordio

Good apps.. i have a few of these installed and love them!

spazby

love these updates, keep em coming

http://varemenos.com/ Varemenos

>top10-hot-awesome updates
>most of them are just bug fixes

thekaz

Another great addition to the site. Keep up the great work, guys! There’s a reason this is my go-to site…

Vance

Thanks! Like a fine cigar, you guys just keep getting better with time.

Nathan D.

Thanks for the list of apps :-)

http://tinkerdad.blogspot.com xfaith

I use Rom Manager the most, will have to check some of the other top apps that are listed here.

K2theIzzo

I’m gonna Tiny Flashlight and AppAware a try. Android and Me is becoming one of my top android sites.

Kevinthebox

Launcher Pro has to be the smoothest Android home launcher in the Market. IMO it just edges out GO launcher.

benben

I prefer ADW EX. I used to use LPP but it seems development just stopped. But I would take either one of the two over GO. Opinions differ :)

DuDlik

Fine apps

honourbound68

For rooted users, I’d include Titanium Backup. I flashed so many different roms on my 2 sammy epics that I’d be lost without the app.

azcapone

I’m using two of them. TuneIn is great, but actual only on Wi-Fi, that’s sad.

cabrone

I’ve long preferred Sound Hound Infinity over shazam. Perhaps I’ll give it another try but last time I did the speed was awful on shazam.

Hall Lo

Thanks A&M, please have this kind of articles every week :D

MoSDeeb

I really wish we had an official Reddit app

classic_hero

surprisingly i dont habe any of those but ill try out appware it looks interesting

delinear

Yes, Appaware looks great, I’m always on the lookout for novel ways to find good apps, I’d like to see more powerful searches incorporated into native Android. Seeing what people around me download is an interesting way to find more locally relevant apps (although it seems to be mostly games). I will have to have a play with this and see what it can do.

http://a1.blogspot.com EwanRGR

Do wish you’d do a top 10 apps for the week – particularly a top 10 for tablets. But this is pretty good.

I would caution, however, that a lot of custom ROM folks do NOT suggest using ROM Manager. It’s a good idea to check with your provider to make sure they are ok with your using it. Otherwise you can find that they first comment you are likely to get if you have a problem is… we don’t support ROM Manager. I know on the Xoom, LG Optimus, and my Streak that the main custom ROMs have issues with it.

Just to be clear, I’m not saying it’s bad or not to use it, just to check first. If you’re new to rooting and hoping the tool will help simplify your life, you want to make sure it won’t actually make it worse!

kicost

WhatsApp is very very useful…. TuneIn a good worldwide radio ;)

abdi

j ve chat

Collen Patrick Chauke Ledwaba

Welcum

rose rabe

…i want whatapp on my mobile to connect around the world..

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